10 best quotes from Tim Duncan's first public statement since retiring from the San Antonio Spurs

"I'm not dying, just moving to another chapter. I don't have a script; that's the beauty of it."

"I'm not dying, just moving to another chapter. I don't have a script; that's the beauty of it."

Photo: Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

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"I'm not dying, just moving to another chapter. I don't have a script; that's the beauty of it."

"I'm not dying, just moving to another chapter. I don't have a script; that's the beauty of it."

Photo: Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

10 best quotes from Tim Duncan's first public statement since retiring from the San Antonio Spurs

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In classic Tim Duncan fashion — relaxed in a green, cotton T-shirt at his kitchen table alongside his life-long best friend and girlfriend — the legendary power forward made his first public statements about his decision to retire from the NBA on Wednesday.

Duncan took a trip down the River Walk with a Larry O'Brien trophy, surrounded by thousands of his dearest admirers, five times in his 19-year career with the same team he was drafted to — but never an ego trip. His interview on Wednesday, promoted with not much fanfare besides a couple of tweets, was the perfect last page of his storied-yet-humble career.

The sports world tuned into a site they probably never heard of before Wednesday: ViVid Streaming, a Virgin Islands-based station owned by his best friend Rashidi Clenance —not ESPN or an online screed — to hear Duncan's thoughts on his life up until now and what's next.

There wasn't a room of reporters fighting for a chance to speak or a swarm of camera shutters. In fact, the only camera present was held by Duncan's San Antonio-based girlfriend, Vanessa Macias, who live-streamed the conversation and chimed in with occasional questions and giggles. His dog also made a cameo with a few barks towards the end of interview, but that's about it.

In the 73-minute interview, Clenanance and Duncan talked about their memories on the islands, revealing why Duncan doesn't have an accent. Apparently, his parents were strict about speaking "properly" at home.

Like two old friends, they continued to reminisce on college years and Duncan's first NBA parties: pizza in a New York City hotel room with Clenance and a few other close friends.

Duncan opened up about how he entered the league as a 21-year-old and decided he'd do it his way.

“I’ve always approached it a different way. I’m not a yeller and a screamer and a jumper and a pusher. I’m not gonna do all that stuff with my teammates but I’ve been competitive from day one," he said. "Whether people recognize it or not, I’m not gonna go out there and hurt someone, but if it’s up in the air, I’m going to try harder than you to get it done."

After leaving his mark on the Spurs, NBA and San Antonio over nineteen years and five championships, the 40-year-old decided it was time to call curtains.